Fluid cooling apparatus



July 11, 1950 WEBER 2,514,529

FLUID COOLING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1946 iNVENTOR L,J. WEBERATTORNEYS Patented July ll, 1950 FLUID COOLING APPARATUS Louis J. Weber,Bartlesville, I :la., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Com Delaware Pony,a corporation of Application July 16, 1946, Serial No. 683,905

6 Claims. (CL 261-117) This invention relates to apparatus for reduc- Iing the temperature of fluids. One aspect of this invention relates toapparatus for quenching high temperature gases. Another aspect of thisinvention relates to a method for preventing the coking or accumulationof carbon in a transfer line. Still another aspect of this inventionrelates to a flexible joint.

In various hydrocarbon conversion processes especially those processesusing pebble heater type furnaces and reaction chambers, the eifluentgases must be coiled quickly in order to stop the reaction and tominimize the deterioration of subsequent equipment. In conventionalequipment for cooling hot gases, the direct contact of the hot gaseswith the apparatus results in severe stresses because of the variationsof temperature in the metal. These stresses eventually cause failure ofthe apparatus. Especially in the cracking of hydrocarbons in pebbleheater type furnaces or reaction chambers, the hot gases entering thecooling apparatus are often at a temperature above 1600 F. and as aresult of the injection of the cooling medium therein the coolingapparatus is heated and cooled spot-wise causing severe deformation.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a quenchingapparatus which will reduce the temperature ofhot gases without imposingundue thermal stresses in the quenching apparatus.

Another object is this invention is to provide a novel apparatus for thequenching of hot gases.

Still another object of this invention is to prevent the accumulation ofcarbon in the gas transfer line to the quenching chamber.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus for thequenching of hot gases which is relatively less susceptible todeterioration at higher temperatures.

It is another object of this invention to provied a flexible member forthe passage of a conduit therethrough.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the accompanying description and disclosure.

In the drawing forations 8 leading from the annular passagam 8 into thehollow interior of casting 6. A conduit I is provided for introducingsteam or other vapor into annular passageway 9. Casting 6 is connectedto an L-shaped metal conduit I2 by means of flange II. Conduit I2 passesthrough a conical shaped or annular tapered member I4 into an outercasing I3, preferably of a cylindrical shape. Conical shaped member I4comprises an inverted truncated cone or annular tapered member having aflat lip or rim through which conduit I2 extends and adjoins the loweror small end 01 the inverted cone. The conical portion of member I4 isgenerally constructed of similar material and of similar thickness toconduit I2. Conduit I2 is usually welded to member I4 but conduit I2 maymerely be inserted in conical member ll to form a gas-tight fit withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention. The lip or rim of member I4is welded or bolted to outer casing I3. The lower portion of outer 4casing I3 is of a restricted cross-sectional area and is usually of aconical shape. A cylindrical shell I6 is positioned,- preferablyconcentrically, within casing I3 in such a manner that conduit I2extends a short distance into shell I6. Shell I6 is-supported bysuitable supports 24. The shape of shell I6 is preferably cylindricaland has a larger diameter than conduit I2 so that conduit I2 may extenda short distance into shell I6. Inner shell I6 forms an outer annularpassageway 2I between outer casing I3 and inner shell I6 and also formsan inner passageway 22 within shell I6. A conduit 21 is attached to thelower portion of casing I3 by means of flanges 26. A conduit II andnozzles I8 and I9 provide means for injecting a spray of water or otherliquid into inner shell I6. Conduits 23. provide means for introducingsteam or other vapor into annular space 2|.

For high temperature work shell I6 and casing I3 are constructed ofchrome-nickel-iron alloy of about 25% chromium and 20% nickel. Flange I4may conveniently be constructed of 18-8 stainless steel.

Although the apparatus shown is illustrated in a vertical position theapparatus maybe placed in a horizontal position without departing fromthe scope'of this invention. Also steam injection means 23 may beomitted if desired.

Operation In the drawing hot gases to be quenched are passed throughhollow casting 6 into conduit I2. Steam is introduced into annularpassageway 9 I through line I and is injected into the flowing 3 gaseousstream through perforation or orifices I. The steam forms a protectivefilm on the inner surface of conduit l2 and prevents the accumulation ofcarbon and carburization of the metal surface. Hot gases from conduit l2into passageway 22 formed by shell l6. These gases pass in twodirections, through outer passageway 2| and through inner passageway 22to the lower portion of casing I! where they are admixed and recombined.The coeificient of expansion of the conical tapered member 14 andconduit l2 are the same, and therefore, as a result of temperaturechanges, the member II and conduit l2 expand and contract together.Armular tapered member I is flexible transversely and, therefore, tendsto decrease the stress on conduit l2. In this manner the joint ofconduit I2 and member I is considerably more flexible than theconventional joints. Steam is injected through conduit 23 to aid inforcing the gaseous mixture through outer passageway 2| and preventsstagnation of the mixture therein. Water is injected through line H andnozzles I8 and I9 into space 22 as a a result of which the hot gases arerapidly cooled. The gases in the annular space 2| are cooled when theycontact the gases from space 22 in the lower portion of casing l3.Cooled gases are then passed from casing l3 through conduit 21 tosubsequent equipment (not shown) for further cooling or treatment of thegases.

Casting 6 may form the outlet from a pebble heater type reaction chamberand is so constructed as to facilitate the injection of steam through anumber of orifices into the reaction chamber eilluent. Steam injectionaids in the quenching operation and tends to rovide a protective film ofsteam on transfer line I2.

At the point of connection of conduit I2 with moved from the coolingapparatus and passed to a second cooling zone for further cooling.

Having described my invention, obviously vari= ous alterations andmodifications of the apparatus will become apparent to those skilled inthe art \twithout departing from the scope of this invenion.

I claim:

1 1. Apparatus for quenching hot gases comprising in combination anelongated outer casing having an inlet end closure member comprising anannular tapered member forming a flexible joint at its smaller end withan inlet conduit extending through said tapered member into saidchamber; an inner elongated tubular member of lesser width than saidcasing and of greater width than said inlet conduit, extendinglengthwise of said casing in spaced-apart relation thereto throughoutthe length of said tubular member so as to provide an annular chamberbetween said casing and said tubular member communicating at both endswith the cylindrical chamber within said tubular member, said tubularmember surrounding said inlet conduit for a small portion of its lengthin spaced-apart relation thereto; support means for holding said tubularmember in position; conduit means communicating with said cylindricalchamber for injecting a cooling fluid therein; and an outlet conduitconnecting with up. By means of the conical shape of member M, theeifect is similar to that of another conduit which is capable ofexpanding and moving approximately the same as conduit l2.

Inner shell 16 shields outer casing l3 from the water spray. It is wellknown that when alloy steels are either heated or cooled spot-wise thatsevere stresses occur in the metal. By placing the shield, such asshield I 6, to protect outer casing II the life of the casing is greatlyincreasedr when inner shield l6 becomes deformed or otherwise incapableof further use, it may be easily removed by removing member H.

The following example is illustrative only of an application of thepresent apparatus and should not be considered unnecessarily limiting tothe invention:

Example A cracked hydrocarbon eilluent was passed from a pebble heatertype conversion chamber into cooling apparatus constructed according tothis invention. The gaseous eiiluent at atmospheric pressure and at atemperature of about 1650 F. was passed at a rate of about 11,000cubicfeet per. minute into the cooling apparatus. A gaseous eifluent ata temperature of about 600 1?. was rethe outlet end of said casing forwithdrawing quenched gases from both of said chambers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including conduit means extending throughsaid casing into said annular, space for introduction of a cooling fluidthereto.

3. Apparatus for quenching hot gases comprising in combination an outercylindrical casing having a closure member at the inlet end thereof; aninner cylindrical shell of lesser diameter than said casing axiallypositioned within said outer casing in spaced-apart relation theretothroughout its length providing an outer annular quenching chamberbetween said outer casing and said inner shell and an inner cylindricalquenching chamber within said inner shell each in communication with theother at both ends; an annular,

tapered member attached to said closure member and forming a gas-tightflexible joint with an inlet conduit extending therethrough axially ofsaid casing, said conduit being of lesser diameter than said inner shelland extending thereinto a short distance in spaced-apart relationthereto; an eduction conduit connecting with the outlet end of saidcasing for withdrawing quenched fluid from both of said chambers;support means for holding said shell in position; conduit means forinjecting cooling fluid into said inner quenching chamber; and means forinjecting a cooling fluid into said inlet conduit around the peripherythereof so as to provide for a protective fluid fllm on the walls ofsaid conduit.

4. Apparatus for quenching hot gases which comprises in combination anouter elongated cylindrical casing having an inlet end closure membercomprising an annular axially positioned tapered member surrounding aninlet conduit and forming a gas-tight expansion joint therewith at thesmaller end of said tapered member, said inlet conduit extending axiallyinto the interior of said casing a short distance; an inner tubularmember of lesser diameter than said outer casing and of greater diameterthan said inlet conduit extending axially of said casing to theproximity of the outlet end thereof and surrounding said inlet conduitat the inner end thereof in spaced-apart relation thereto so as toprovide an inner cylindrical primary quenching chamber and an outerannular secondary quenching chamber each in communication with the otherat the inlet end between said inlet conduit and said tubular member andalso at the outlet end; support means for holding said tubular member inposition; liquid injector means communicating with said primaryquenching chamber; fluid injector means communicating with saidsecondary quenching chamber; and a tapered member connecting the outletend of said casing with a conduit of lesser diameter for mixing ofquenched gas from the primary and secondary quenching zones and eductionof the same.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including means for injecting a coolingfluid into said inlet conduit around the periphery thereof so as toprovide for the formation of a protective fluid film on the walls orsaid'conduit.

6. Apparatus for quenching hot gases which comprises in combination anouter elongated upright cylindrical casing having a top closure member;an inner axially positioned cylindrical shell I of lesser diameterspaced apart from said casing nular quenching chamber in communicationwith each other at both the upper and lower ends; support means forholding said shell in position; an inlet conduit extending axially ingas-tight arrangement through said closure member into said innerquenching chamber a short distance, said conduit being of lesserdiameter than said shell so as to provide an annular passageway betweensaid conduit and said shell connecting said inner and outer chambers; atapered member connecting the lower end of said casing with an eductionconduit of lesser diameter; and injector means for introducing a coolingfluid into said inner chamber.

LOUIS J. WEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are 01' record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 958,752 Mackensen May 24, 19101,699,424 Brdar Jan. 15, 1929 1,875,130 Peck Aug. 30, 1932 1,966,859Heinrich July 1'7, 1934 2,212,288 Decker Aug. 20, 1940 2,321,879 ValdezJune 15, 1943 2,421,761 Rowand et a1. June 10, 1947

